A SYNTHESIS A Synthesis of Adrenaline-like ... - ACS Publications

[CONTRIBUTION FROM THE INSTITUTE OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF .... (12) Ekeleg, Carlson and Ronzio, Rcc. frao. ckim., 69, 496 (1940). ...
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A SYNTHESIS OF ADRENALINELIKE COMPOUNDS

March, 1949

reported melting point for the ethyl ester is 93”; for butyl 04O.’@ Anal. Calcd. for C8HlbOdN: N, 7.41. Found: N, 7.24, 7.44. The 42-g. pot residue was recrystallized three times from ether-petroleum ethef;mixture to yield 38 g. of fine white needles, m. p. 42-43 Four grams of this solid was saponified in the manner previously described. The saponification distillate gave a positive ceric nitrate test and a negative iodoform test. Treatment of the alcoholic phase of the distillate with 3,?-dinitrobenzoyl chloride resulted in an ester, m. p . 63-64 . The reported melting point for butyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate is 64 Anal. Calcd. for ClaHlpOaN: N, 6.45. Found: S, 6.34, 6.28. . ____

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1045

Acknowledgment.-The authors wish to express their appreciation to the Hooker Electrochemical Company for the generous supply of allyl chloroformate. Summary The synthesis of a number of new alkyl azamalonate has been described and a redistribution reaction has been postulated for the formation of the symmetrical di-esters. These compounds are to be tested for their pharmacological activity. Fungicidal data are presented.

( 16) Shriner a n d Fuson, “Identification of Organic Compounds,” J o h n Wiley a n d Sons, Inc., New York, S . Y . ,1940, p. 18.5.

RECEIVEDOCTOBER4, 1948

[CONTRIBUTION FROM THE INSTITUTE O F ORGANIC CHEMISTRY O F THE UNIVERSITY OF SZEGED, HUNGARY]

A Synthesis of Adrenaline-like Compounds BY GABORFODOR AND According to a recent review’ on the subject, the best method of obtaining aryl methylaminoethanols, e. g., synephrine, is the condensation of wchloro-p-benzoyloxyacetophenone with methylbenzylamine, followed by hydrolysis and subsequent hydrogenation.2 Another useful methoda consists of the condensation of hydroxy derivatives of benzaldehyde bisulfite with a salt of nitromethane, followed by the reductive condensation of the nitro ethanol with formaldehyde3 to the corresponding aryl aminoethanol. An excellent synthesis of ephedrine is described by Manske and Johnson4 from phenyl methyl methyl diketone with methylamine. I n this process the authors applied, for the first time, ketonic aldehydes and diketones as starting mat e r i a l ~ ~no; similar reactions have been reported previously in the literature. However, the use of methoxy and hydroxy derivatives, even in the case of diketones, offered some difficulties. It was thought, therefore, to be of interest to work out a synthesis of hydroxy aryl ethanolamines, starting from hydroxy arylglyoxals, similar to that of phenyl-methylaminopropanol.4 4-Hydroxyphenylglyoxa16 (11) has been obtained from phenol through 4-hydroxyphenyltrichloromethyl-carbinoL7 We have synthesized it in another manner: first, 4-hydroxyacetophenone (I) was prepared according to Meerwein. (1) Priestley and Moness, J. Orp. Chem., 6 , 355 (1940). (2) Stolz a n d Hallensleben, Chem. Z c n t ~ . ,102, 11, 1056 (1931), German P a t e n t 526,087. (3) Kamlet, i b i d . , 110, 11, 3451 ( 1 Y 3 Y ) . 14) Manske and Johnson, THIS J O U R N A L , 61, 580 (lY29). ( 5 ) Manske, ibid., 61, 1907 (1929). (6) Boehringer, Chem. Zen&., 101, 11, 2442 (1930), German P a t e n t 496,646. (7) Pauly and Schanz, Be?. 66, 981 (1923); cf. Austrian P a t e n t 141.159. (8) Meerwein, Bcr., 66, 411 (1933).

ODON

KovAcs

This was then oxidized with selenium dioxide, without protecting the phenolic group, to 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxal; this latter was isolated as a crystalline hydrate and further identified by its well defined quinoxaline derivative (V) , Several attempts were made for the condensation of this ketonic aldehyde with methylamine, with subsequent or simultaneous reduction of the azomethine formed (111). However, when this amorphous compound or an equimolecular mixture of the glyoxal and of methylamine was reduced catalytically, a sudden initial reaction occurred, but the hydrogen consumption stopped with an absorption of only 0.5 to 0.8 mole of hydrogen against the calculated 2 moles. The expected 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylamine ethanol (IV) could not be obtained from the reaction mixture. We supposed that our failure to obtain the desired compound was due to the fact that the 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxal reacted with methylamine in much the same manner as phenylglyoxal, which gives heterocyclic condensation products with hydroxylamine,g ammonia’O and methylamine.” I n order to prevent these undesired reactions, we carried out experiments in which the azomethine was reduced instantaneously after its formation : the alcoholic solution of 4-hydroxy-phenylglyoxal was added under vigorous mechanical stirring drop by drop to a suspension of palladium on charcoal in an alcoholic solution of methylamine in a hydrogen atmosphere. Two moles of hydrogen were consumed for each mole of 4-hydroxy phenylglyoxal hydrate and a colorless solution resulted giving 1-(4’-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylaminoethanol with good yield and high degree of purity. It seems, there(9) Angeliro and Cusmano, Gars. chim. ifal.. 66, 791 (1936). (10) Muller and Pechmann, Ber., 22, 2559 (1889): cf. Pinner, ibid., 86, 1134 (1902). (11) Gastaldi, Gars. chtm. rtnl , 61, 233 (1921).

GABORFODOR AND ODON KovAcs

1046 HO-0-C-Me

Vol. 71

+ HO-

0

0

I

A-Me

I11

HO--~-CH-CH~ I I OH ~ ; ” . c H ~ IV

VI fore, that the methylamine did not react with the with boiling water. It could not be obtained by ketonic group of the arylglyoxal(I1). the direct oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone Phenylglyoxal reacts with aminoguanidine in with selenium dioxide as the o-hydroxy groups alkaline medium similarly as an aldehyde, whereas are oxidized prior to the methyl group, When 3,4-dihydroxy phenylglyoxal was reduced in acid medium a selective condensation of the catalytically together with isopropylamine, Nketonic group occurs.12 2-Hydroxyacetophenone13 (Type I) was con- isopropylamino-nor-adrenaline”was obtained, as verted in a similar manner into the 2-hydroxy sulfate. We synthesized the same compound also phenylglyoxal (Type 11), characterized by its from 3,4-dibenzyloxy phenylglyoxal, prepared crystalline condensation product (VI) with o- from 3,4-dibenzyloxyacetophenone19 with selephenylenediamine. Two moles of this o-hydroxy nium dioxide, by reductive condensation with ketonic aldehyde reacted only with their aldehyde isopropylamine with a simultaneous hydrogenolygroups with one mole of diamine, as the ketonic sis of the benzyl ether linkage. It is surprising that under our experimental group could be chelated by the o-standing hydroxy group, a hydrogen bridge being formed. conditions reductive condensation occurs smoothly Hydrogenation of 2-hydroxyphenylglyoxal by the only in the presence of free phenolic hydroxyl. method described above led to o-~ynephrine’~ This 3-step synthesis of synephrine is far simpler (Type IV) . 3-Hydroxyphenylglyoxal was ob- than those discussed by Priestley and Moness,’ or tained in the same way from 3-hydroxyacetophe- by Kamlet.3 The new synthesis of N-isopropylnone15and converted into the crystalline quinoxa- nor-adrenaline, from catechol, via diacetoxyacetoline derivative. phenone and dihydroxyphenylglyoxal is also use4-Methoxyacetophenone16 gave on oxidation ful, as only these two intermediates must be isowith selenium dioxide the crystalline C-methoxy- lated. The method is consequently of general phenylglyoxal hydrate (Type 11). On reducing value for the preparation of hydroxyaryl ethanolthe latter together with methylamine, the expected amino alcohol could not be obtained; howExperimental ever, 1-(4’-methoxyphenyl) -ethanediol-1,2 was isoPhenylglyoxal hydrate21 converted in a concenlated with a good yield. Phenylglyoxal was con- traoted aqueous solution intowas 2-phenylquino~aline,~~ m. p. verted similarly into 1-phenyl-ethanediol-1,2. 78 . In these cases the hydrogenation reaction of the 4-Hydroxyphenylglyoxal Hydrate.-Twenty-two and ketonic aldehydes has a greater velocity than two-tenths grams (0.2 mole) of selenium dioxide was dissolved in 120 ml. of dioxane and 4 ml. of water at 60°, then their condensation reaction with methylamine. was added 27.2 g. (0.2 mole) of 4-hydroxyacetophen~ne~ In order to employ the method for the synthesis and the reaction mixture boiled for four hours in a steamof adrenaline derivatives, e. g., N-isopropyl-nor- bath. The separated selenium was filtered off, the yellow adrenaline,” i t was necessary t o prepare 3,4-di- solution was evaporated in vacuum a t 40”. The residue treated with 150 tnl. of water on the steam-bath for hydroxyphenylglyoxal as an intermediate. This was three hours under stirring, the resulting solution decolorized was obtained by the oxidation of 3,4-diacetoxy- with charcoal, filtered and concentrated to a small volume. acetophenonela to the corresponding 3,4-diace- The yellowish colored hydrate crystallized. Yield was toxyphenylglyoxal and subsequent hydrolysis 31.4 g. (87%). Recrystallized from the fourth amount of (12) Ekeleg, Carlson and Ronzio, Rcc. frao. ckim., 69, 496 (1940). (13) Friedlander and Neurlllrfer, Ber., 30, 1080 (1897). (14) Legerlotz, German Patent 522,790. (15) Rupe and Majewski, Ber.. 33, 3407 (1900). (16) Kastner, “Neuere Methoden d . praparativen organischen Chemie,” Verlag Chemie, 1941, p. 413. (17) Boehringer, Schwitzer Patent 214,499. (18) Voswinckel. Bcr., 42, 4653 (1911).

water, 27 g. of greenish white prisms was obtained, m. p. 111O.6 Oxidation in alcoholic solution gave a similar

(19) Diitzmann and Krauss. Ckcm. Zcnlr., 96, 11, 612 (1925). ( 2 0 ) Servita, Ltd., Fodor and KovLcs, Hungarian Patent Appl. no. 5-20,468. (21) Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. I, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.. N e w York, N. Y., 1943, p. 509. (22) Fischer and Schindler, Bcr., 89, 2243 (190fi).

A SYNTHESIS OF ADRENALINE-LIKE COMPOUNDS

March. 1949

(85%) yield; whereas in aqueous solution only 42% 4hydroxyphenylglyoxal could be obtained. 2 -(4 '-Hydroxyphenyl) -quinoxaline was recrystallized from methanol as white plates, m. p. 204". Anal. Calcd. for C14H100N2: C, 75.66; H, 4.54. Found: C, 75.85; H , 4.68. 4-Methoxyphenylglyoxal Hydrate.-A mixtur; of 50 ml. of dioxane, 2 ml. of water, 11.1 g. (0.1 mole) of selenium dioxide and 15'g. (0.1 mole) of 4-methoxyacetophenone16 was refluxed for forty-eight hours. After removal of selenium and of the solvent, the oily residue was treated with 500 ml. of water a t 100' for four hours with stirring, the solution was clarified with charcoal, the hydrate crystallized on cooling. A second crop of crystals was obtained by concentrating the solution: yield was 15 g. (82'%), m. p. 84". 2 -(4'-Methoxyphenyl) -qu-line.-Long colorless needles, from ethanol, m. p. 102 Anal. Calcd. for C15H120Nz: C, 75.76; H, 5.12. Found: C, 75.99; H, 4.88. 3-Hydroxyphenylglyoxal.-A mixture of 10 g. of selenium dioxide (0.09 mole), 60 ml. of dioxane, 2 ml. of water and 13.6 g. (0.1 mole) of 3-hydroxyacetophenone'j was refluxed for twenty hours, then worked up as described above. The hydrate, 14.3 g., could not be crystallized. I t was identified by its crystalline quinoxaline derivative. 2-(3 '-Hydroxyphen$) -quinoxahe.-Yellow needles from ethanol, m. p. 169 Anal. Calcd. for C14H1oON2: C, 75.66; H, 4.54. Found, C, 75.64; H , 4.65. 2-Hydroxyphenylglyoxal.-Thirteen and six-tenths grams (0.1 mole) of 2-hydro~yacetophenone~~ was OXIdized in the same manner as described before. The oily glyoxal derivative, 12.1 g., could not be crystallized for identification ; it was condensed with o-phenylenediamine. 1,2-bis-( 2 '-Hydroxyphenyl-glyoxalylidene)-phenylenediamine .-One and forty-three hundredths grams of the oily product was dissolved in 5 ml. of water, a hot solution of 1 g. o-phenylenediamine was added and the separated yellowish crystals filtered off. Recrystallization fro? ethanol produced delicate needles, 1.72 g., m. p. 295 . Anal. Calcd. for C22H1604K2: C, 70.79; H, 4.33; N, 7.54. Found: C, 70.69; H, 4.19; X, 7.20. 3,4-Dibenzyloxyphenylglyoxa1.--From 10 g. (0.09 mole) of selenium dioxide in 150 ml. of ethanol (96%) and 33.2 g. (0.1 mole) of 3,4-diben~yloxyacetophenone~~ 28.3 g. of recrystallized dibenzyloxyphenylglyoxal was obtained, m. p. 98-loo", white needles from ethanol. 2 -(3 ',4'-Dibenzyloxyphenyl) -quinoxalhe .-2-(3 ',4 'Dibenzyoxyphenyl) -quinoxaline was prepared in methanolic solution, since the glyoxal is insoluble in water; wadding-like needles from methanol, m. p. 118 Anal. Calcd. for C28H2202N2: C, 80.36; H , 5.29. Found: C, 80.07; H, 5.30. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglyoxal.-A mixture of 11.1 g. (0.1 mole) of selenium dioxide and 26 g. (0.11 mole) of 3,4-diacetoxyacetophenone,1*65 ml. of dioxane and 2 ml. of water was refluxed for thirty hours. Selenium and the solvent were removed in the usual manner and the brown ish oily residue hydrolyzed by treatment with 120 ml. of water and heating in a nitrogen atmosphere for six to ten hours in a steam-bath. The endpoint of the reaction is i n dicated by the formation in a ?ample taken from the solution of a crystalline precipitate with o-phenylenediamine. The decolorized solution yielded in the usual manner 18.1 g. of a solid foam. 2-(3 ',4'-Dihydroxyphenyl) -quinoxalhe, yellow colored needles from diluted ethanol (50?6), m. p. 254-256". Anal. Calcd. for C14HloOzNz: C, 70.58; H , 4.23. Found: C, 70.41; H , 4.42. dl-l-(4 '-Hydroxyphenyl) -2 -methylaminoethanol.--All reductions were carried out in a three-necked, roundbottomed flask, equipped with a ground glass mechanical stirrer (1000 to 1200 r. p. m.), a dropping funnel and a gas introducing tube.

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1847

One and six-tenths grams of Pd-charcoal (containing 12% PdO) in 100 ml. of ethanol was saturated with hydrogen, then 1.12 g. (0.03 mole or 20% excess) of methylamine in 60 ml. of ethanol was introduced. A solution of 5.31 g. (0.03 mole) 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxal hydrate in 80 ml. of alcohol was added slowly through the dropping funnel (10-12 drops per minute), followed by 40 ml. of alcohol. The mixture absorbed 1410 normal ml. of hydrogen in 110 minutes (calcd. 1344 ml. for 2 moles). The pale yellow colored solution was filtered from the catalyst and both the solvent and the excessomethylamine were removed under reduced pressure a t 50 . When the solution had been concentrated to one third of its volume, the product began t o crystallize. The residue was cooled, filtered and washed with 5 ml. of ice-cold e t h p o l ; yield was 4.05 g. (81%) of synephrine, m. p. 180 ; after recrystallization from alcohol, the m. p. rose to 184°.e Anal. Calcd. for COH1302N: C, 64.65; H, 7.84. Found: C, 64.61; H , 7.69. Similar yields were obtained by using an Adams catalyst, or a Raney-nickel catalyst instead of palladium-charcoal. 1-(2 '-Hydroxyphenyl) -2-methylaminoethanol.-Five and a half grams of the crude 2-hydroxyphenylglyoxal was condensed in the same manner as above with 1.39 g. of methylamine in the presence of 1.2 g. of the catalyst in 280 ml. of ethanol; 1080 ml. of hydrogen (calcd. for 2 moles 1344 ml.) was absorbed in 230 minutes. Evaporation in a vacuum furnished a crop (2.8 9.) of white crystals of the arni;o alcohol; recrystallized from ethanol (87%), m. p. 211 . Anal. Calcd. for CsH1302N.H20: C, 58.35; H, 6.42; N,7.56. Found: C,58.17; H,6.11; N,7.31. 1-(3',4 '-Dihydroxyphenyl) -2-isopropylaminoethanol (N-Isopropylnoradrenaline) A. From 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglyoxal Hydrate.-To a suspension of 1.6 g. of Pdcharcoal in 160 ml. of ethanol containing 1.92 g. (0.033 mole) of isopropylamine, 5 g. (0.03 mole) of the amorphous 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglyoxal in 120 ml. of ethanol was added drop by drop (5-8 drops per minute) a t 50" in a hydrogen atmosphere under mechanical stirring. During 370 minutes 980 ml. (standard) of hydrogen was taken up (calcd. 1090 ml.). The solution was neutralized with 2 -Vsulfuric acid (calcd. for isopropylamine) and evaporated to a small volume. The sulfate of N-isopropylnor-adrenaline crystallized in white prisms, yield 3.75 g. (47y0), m. p. 180". I t may be recrystallizedfromalcohol (go'%). This compound was assayed by Prof. B. Issekutz, Jr., on guinea pigs for bronchospasmolytic activity and found as effective as aleudrine." Anal. Calcd. for C I ~ H ~ , O ~ N . O . ~ H ZN,S O 5.3. ~ : Found: N, 5.1. B. From 3,4-Dibenzyloxyphenylglyoxa1.-Ten grams (0.03 mole) of 3,4-dibenzyloxyphenylglyoxal, 2 g. (0.034 mole) of isopropylamine in 280 ml. of alcohol in the presence of 1.6 g. Pd-charcoal absorbed a t 50" 2580 N ml. of hydrogen (calcd. for 4 moles 2690 N ml.) in 330 minutes. Yield was 4.9 g. (61%) of the same amino alcohol sulfate. l-Phenylethanediol-l,2.-A solution of 4.56 g . (0.03 mole) of phenylglyoxal hydrate was added in ninety minutes to a suspension of 0.8 g. of Pd-charcoal in 160 ml. of ethanol, containing 1.4 g. (0.045 mole) of methylamine by the above-described method. During 120 minutes 1370 PZ ml. of hydrogen was absorbed (calcd. for 2 moles 1344 nil.). The solution was evaporated, the residue recrystallized from 10 ml. of benzene, furnishing 2.95 g. (71%) of white needles, m. p. 67°.23 It does not contain nitrogen. Anal. Calcd. for CsHloOs: C, 69.51; H, 7.22. Found: C, 69.49; H, 7.21. 1-(4'-Methoxyphenyl) -ethanediol-l,2 .-Starting with 5.46 g. of 4-methoxyphenylglyoxal hydrate, hydrogenation occurs under the same conditions as described for phenylglyoxdl. The addition of the glyoxal required 110 minutes, the uptake of hydrogen stopped after 190 minutes and was 1350 S ml. (instead of 1344 ml. calcd.).

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(23) Zincke, Ann., 216, 293 (1883).

1048

J. B. KOEPFLI, J . F. MEADAND JOHN A. BROCKMAN, JR.

Vol. 71

Recrystallization produ~ed~4.45 g. (68%) of 4-methoxyIt is free of nitrogen. phenylethanediol, m. p. 82 A n d . Calcd. for CgHdh: c, 61.32; H, 7.17. Found: C, 64.50; H, 7.17.

oxidized by means of selenium dioxide with very good yields to the corresponding aryl glyoxals. ,somehydroxyaryl, respectively, benzyloxyaryl glyoxals were reduced together with methyl amAcknowledgment.-The authors are indebted ine, respectively, isopropylamine to the adrenalto Mrs. Bruckner-Hatz and to Miss KovAcs inelike aryl ethanolamin2s, synephrine and Nosk.lAsfor the and to Prof* B * isopropyl-nor-adrenaline Were prepared with good Issekutz, Jr., for the Pharmacological assay Of yields. Pheny1glyox:J and 4-methoxy phenylglysome compounds. oxal gave under the same conditions only the corSummary responding glycols as in these cases condensation A new synthesis of hydroxyaryl N-alkylamino before reduction of the glyoxals did not take ethanols is described. Hydroxyaryl methyl ke- Place. tones, respectively, their esters or ethers were RECEIVED JUNE 8, 1948

.

[CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GATESAND CRELLIN LABORATORIES OF CHEMISTRY, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, NO.

1221, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF

CHEMISTRY, OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE]

Alkaloids of Dichroa febrifuga. I. Isolation and Degradative Studies‘ BY J. B. KOEPFLI, J. F. MEAD^ A part of the war-born government sponsored research on malaria3 was directed to a search for new antimalarials from plant sources. In papers by Liu‘ there is incidental mention of an antimalarial drug indigenous to Yunnan, and samples of this drug (SN 635E1),~supplied by Liu, when tested in this country were found to be quite active against avian malaria. The samples were labeled “Chunine Leaf Powder” and further identified only as “from Saxifragaceae.” The significance of the Saxifragaceae as a source of new antimalarials was further indicated when the Chinese drug Ch’ang Shan (SN 10767), reputed to be the roots of the Saxifrage, Dichroa febrifuga, Lour., also proved active in avian malaria. The availability of an adequate supply of Ch’ang Shan plant material led to this investigation the results of which have been briefly communicated by u s 6 In 1943 when we began our work, the available information on Ch’ang Shan was meager and often contradictory.’ Furthermore, we were particularly concerned as to the botanical identity of our plant material since the Ch’ang Shan supplied us had been obtained from Chinese herb stores either in this country or abroad. Comparison of some of our root material with her(1) T h i s work was done in p a r t under a contract recommended b y t h e Committee on Medical Research, between t h e Office of Scientific Research a n d Development a n d t h e California I n s t i t u t e of Technology, a n d in p a r t b y grants from t h e United S t a t e s Public H e a l t h Service a n d t h e Research Corporation, New York. (2) Present address: University of California a t Los Angeles. (3) “ A Survey of Antimalarial Drugs, 1941-1945,” ed. b y F. Y . Wiselogle, J. W.Edwards, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1946. (4) S. K. Liu, Y . Chang, T. Ch’un a n d S. T a n , C h i m s t .Medical Jour., 69, 575-577 (1941); and S. K . I.iu, .Yafio?tal Medical Jour. of China, 27, 327 (1941). ( 5 ) T h e survey number, desigiiated SS, identifies a drug in t h e records of t h e Survey of Antimalarial Drugs. ref. 3. ( 6 ) J. B. KoepEi, J. F. Mead and J. A. Brockman, .Ir. THIS J O U R N A L , 69, 1837 (1047). (7) K. Kirnura. Chiua Journul 29, 10‘3 i l Y 3 3 ) .

AND JOHN

A. BROCKMAN; JR.

barium specimens and later available indicate that the type of Ch’ang Shan used in this investigation is derived from the roots of D.febrifuga. Supporting evidence of a chemical nature was obtained when we were able to isolate from D. febrifuga (SN 6521), botanically identified a t the time of collection in India, the same alkaloids isolated from our supply of Ch’ang Shan. Since D.febrifuga has long been used in the treatment of “intermittent fevers” in southeastern Asia i t is surprising that except for one reference to a possible glucoside, ”dichroin(?),””’no chemical examination of the plant has been reported until lately. References to investigations which have appeared recently will be cited below. Isolation and Characterization’l Isolation from Ethanol Extracts.-From crude basic fractions of D.febrifuga we have isolated two alkaloids for which we have proposed6 the names febrifugine (DR 153S1)12 and isofebrifugine (SN 14821). Reports that this plant does not contain alkaloid^'^^'^ are probably explained by the fact that the alkaloidal content of the root material is small, 0.05 to O.l%, and by the fact that Meyer’s reagent which is commonly used as a test for alkaloids is remarkably insensitive for these bases. (8) C. S. Jang, Chiizcsc Medical Jour., April-June, 1944. (9) C. Crevost a n d A. Petelot, “Catalogue des Produits de 1’Indochine,” Vol. V, P a r t 1, Produits Medicinaux, p, 164 (1928); a n d K . Heyne, “ D e h-uttige Planten van Nederlandsch Indie,” 2nd ed., Vol. I, p. 687; Buitenzorg (1927). (10) C. Hartwich, Neue Arzneidrog, 1897, p . 1 2 2 , C. %‘ehiner, ” D i e Pflanzenstoffe,” Vol. I, 2nd ed., G. Fisher, J e u a , 1929, p. 428. (11) All melting points are corrected. (12) T h e designation “ D R ” identifies a drug in t h e Antimalarial Drug Repository of t h e h’ational I n s t i t u t e of Health, Bethesda. Maryland. (13) I. M . Tonkin and T S. \Vork, S o l u r e . 156, ( 3 0 (1945). (14) D. Hooper, S a t u i . ~ 167, , IO6 (1946).